ACT Science : Earth and Space Sciences
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Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Earth And Space Sciences
Above is the deer population of Routt County National Forest between 1905 and 2005. The First White-tail deer were introduced to the forest for hunting in 1905. They are not native to the area, though they thrived in the environment.
White tailed deer eat the seeds of coniferous trees, berries, and an assortment of other plants. They tend to roam in small family herds and stick to areas where water is abundant and is unlikely to freeze completely in the winter.
In 1995, an environmental scientist watched a small herd of deer for ten days, recording their movements and taking note of herd size and stopping place. Below is a chart of his results.
|
Day |
Travel distance (mi) |
Herd size |
Stopping place |
|
1 |
21 |
13 |
Bear Creek |
|
2 |
15 |
13 |
Yampa Valley |
|
5 |
19 |
13 |
Bear Creek |
|
8 |
11 |
10 |
Gilpin Lake |
|
10 |
22 |
10 |
Yampa Valley |
What could have caused the herd size to decrease on day 8?
A wildfire started in Yampa Valley.
The deer were preyed on by a pack of wolves at Gilpin Lake.
It began to snow at Gilpin Lake.
Hunters arrived at Bear Creek.
The deer were preyed on by a pack of wolves at Gilpin Lake.
The most correct answers are those that involve Gilpin Lake, as that was where the herd was when three deer were lost. All the other incidents at their other places of travel wouldn't affect them as much as they weren't there. The best answer, though, is that wolves are the cause, for wolves would hunt and kill as many as they could eat and would therefore cause much more damage than snow, something the deer are both used to as well as acclimated to.
Example Question #17 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Earth And Space Sciences
Above is the deer population of Routt County National Forest between 1905 and 2005. The First White-tail deer were introduced to the forest for hunting in 1905. They are not native to the area, though they thrived in the environment.
White tailed deer eat the seeds of coniferous trees, berries, and an assortment of other plants. They tend to roam in small family herds and stick to areas where water is abundant and is unlikely to freeze completely in the winter.
In 1995, an environmental scientist watched a small herd of deer for ten days, recording their movements and taking note of herd size and stopping place. Below is a chart of his results.
|
Day |
Travel distance (mi) |
Herd size |
Stopping place |
|
1 |
21 |
13 |
Bear Creek |
|
2 |
15 |
13 |
Yampa Valley |
|
5 |
19 |
13 |
Bear Creek |
|
8 |
11 |
10 |
Gilpin Lake |
|
10 |
22 |
10 |
Yampa Valley |
If the scientist were to lose the herd of deer at Bear Creek, what would be his best course of action for finding them again?
Wait for the herd to return to Bear Creek in a few days.
Track the deer's footprints and try to catch up.
None of the answers.
Give up and return home.
Wait for the herd to return to Bear Creek in a few days.
Notice the deer travel a large number of miles every day, most likely too far for a human on foot to keep up with. However, the deer return to the same places to rest and drink, and appear to do so in cycles that include all three places of rest regularly. It stands to reason, then, that if the scientist waits at whichever spot he lost them, he will see the herd again in a few days.
Example Question #92 : Earth And Space Sciences
A scientist has observed a new planet, Planet H. It was discovered that Planet H has water on its surface. As a result, it is being investigated to determine if it is possible for Planet H to sustain human life. Futhermore, observations revealed that Planet H has four moons: Moon J, Moon K, Moon L, and Moon M. Each moon's radius, distance to Planet H, and time to orbit Planet H have been recorded in the provided table.
Which moon has the largest mass?
Moon L
Moon M
Moon J
It cannot be determined from the given information
Moon K
It cannot be determined from the given information
Although Moon K has the largest radius, there is nothing stated about the composition of each of the moons. For example, Moon J has the smallest radius, but could be composed of a high mass material that would make its mass higher than the other moons.
Example Question #16 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Earth And Space Sciences
A scientist has observed a new planet, Planet H. It was discovered that Planet H has water on its surface. As a result, it is being investigated to determine if it is possible for Planet H to sustain human life. Futhermore, observations revealed that Planet H has four moons: Moon J, Moon K, Moon L, and Moon M. Each moon's radius, distance to Planet H, and time to orbit Planet H have been recorded in the provided table.
According to NASA, it takes Earth's Moon 27.3 or 29.5 Earth days to orbit the Earth depending upon the period. If the first settlers on Planet H established a lunar calendar similar to Earth's lunar calendar, then which moon would be the best to use (assume all of the moons go through the same cycles as the Earth's Moon)?
Moon K
Moon M
Moon L
It cannot be determined from the given information
Moon J
Moon L
The lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon, which depends upon the time it takes the moon to orbit its respective planet. Moon L has an orbit time of 29.6 days, which is most similar to the given orbit time for Earth's Moon. Therefore Moon L is the best moon to base the lunar calendar on so that it is the most similar to Earth's lunar calendar.
Example Question #91 : Earth And Space Sciences
Researchers have discovered a new planet, Planet Z. This planet is orbited by several comets, A, B, C and D. Researchers have calculated the time it takes each comet to orbit Planet Z, the closest the comet gets to Planet Z and the diameter of the comet.
Which comet, at its closet point to Planet Z, is viewable from the surface of Planet Z?
Comets C and D
Cannot be determined from the given information
Comets A and D
All of the comets are viewable
Cannot be determined from the given information
The size of each comet and the closest distance to Planet Z for each comet is given. However it is not stated that the diameter or distance to Planet Z is more important for viewing the comets. Additionally there is nothing stated about the atmosphere of Planet Z. The atmosphere could be cloudy all the time and cause zero visibility of the night sky.
Example Question #21 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Earth And Space Sciences
Researchers have discovered a new planet, Planet Z. This planet is orbited by several comets, A, B, C and D. Researchers have calculated the time it takes each comet to orbit Planet Z, the closest the comet gets to Planet Z and the diameter of the comet.
If the researchers wanted to visit Planet Z to conduct further researcher, where is the best location to set up a space station in millions of miles from Planet Z's surface? The space station is to be located at the point where all comets reach there minimum distance to Planet Z.
If a space station was to be setup, it should not be located in the path of any of the comets. The closest the comets come to the surface of Planet Z is 2.2 million miles and the farthest the comets are at the minimum is 4.1 million miles. Since it is undesirable for one of the comets to collide with the space station the space station should not be located within the range of 2.2 million miles to 4.1 million miles to Planet Z's surface. The correct answer is the only option not in this range, 6.2 million miles.
Example Question #93 : Earth And Space Sciences
Scientists have recorded data in Region A, Region B, Region C and Region D. The data collected include the average daily temperature, the annual rainfall for the past year and the number of fresh water reservoirs. The scientists want to perform an experiment on wild life migration patterns.
Which of the regions most probably represents a desert?
Region D
Region C
Region A
Region B
Region A
A desert is an area that has very little rainfall and typically has high temperatures. Region A has 1.3 inches of rainfall, which is the smallest recorded amount. This region also has the highest average temperature indicating that Region A is a desert.
Example Question #94 : Earth And Space Sciences
A scientist is studying the makeup of a crossection of the ground on a plot of land on the Pacific coast. The cross-section is as follows:
The line noted by the X marks earth that was on the surface approximately 20,000 years ago. The law of superposition states that, in cross-sections of the Earth's crust, layers that are closer to the center of the Earth are older than those that are farther away.
Layer B is found to be made of limestone. Limestone is largely made up of the skeletons and fossils of coral. What can we infer happened in the last 20,000 years with regards to that layer?
In the last 20,000 years, the level of the Pacific Ocean has dropped
In the last 20,000 years, the level of the Pacific Ocean dropped, then rose significantly
In the last 20,000 years, the level of the Pacific Ocean has risen
In the last 20,000 years, the level of the Pacific Ocean has remained unchanged
None of these
In the last 20,000 years, the level of the Pacific Ocean has dropped
From the information provided, we can infer that at one point, layer B was home to coral, indicating that it was under water. Since this plot of land is on the Pacific coast, we know that the sea levels must have dropped in the past 20,000 years, allowing for the formation of a layer of limestone.
Example Question #21 : How To Find Synthesis Of Data In Earth And Space Sciences
In a specific region, a scientist recorded the rainfall, in inches, during the months of May, June, July and August. The scientist recorded this data in the same spot each month over four years. The purpose of this study was to see how the new factories built in the area impacted the rainfall in that location.
What are the potential impacts if the trend in rainfall continues?
Increased water/irrigation for crops
Flooding of crops
All of these
Cannot be determined from the given information
All of these
The trend in the data is that each year the rainfall increases. In year 1 there is a total of 11.8in, in year 2 a total of 13.8in and the trend continues for the recorded years and months. An increase in rainfall could flood crops if the area already has plenty of water. However if the area is dry, the increase in rainfall could help with irrigation. Both of these answers are correct. Additionally, an increase in rainfall would cause more water to runoff into the environment.
Example Question #95 : Earth And Space Sciences
One night there was a meteor shower and scientists in four different regions, A, B, C and D, observed and counted the number of meteors seen. The scientists noted the duration of the meteor shower and the visibility of the stars.
What is the relationship be the number of meteors seen and the duration of the meteor shower?
It depends on the location
The longer the duration, the more meteors seen
There is no relationship
The shorter the duration, the less meteors seen
The longer the duration of the meteor shower, the less meteors were seen
The longer the duration of the meteor shower, the less meteors were seen
It can be seen in the data table that the most meteors seen were in Region B for a 12 minute period. While in Region D the least amount of meteors were seen and had the longest duration of 33 minutes. Region C had no meteors seen and a duration of zero and therefore is not to be included in this data trend. It is noticed that as the duration of the meteor shower increased, less meteors were seen.
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